Ayu-Dag and other evidence of the Wrath of the Lord

An unusual shape of a laccolith in the southern coastal part of the Crimea, which, when seen from a distance, resembles a huge beast bending its muzzle to the water, could well determine its name, i. e. Ayu-Dag (Crimean Tatar — Ayuv Dağ, i. e. the Bear Mount). The legend about this toponym allegorically tells about a catastrophic earthquake, which the Crimean peninsula was exposed to in the Middle Ages. This natural phenomenon was reflected in three other local legends about the Castel Mount, Yalta and Sunen-Kaya. Most likely, this calamity took place during the first war between Kaffa and Theodoro, in October-November of 1423. In many ways, it can be compared with the notorious Yalta earthquake of 1927. The archaeological works on a number of medieval sites in the region can give a good idea of the consequences of the 15th-century seismic event, which embodied the wrath of the Lord: a monastery on the south-eastern slope of the Ayu-Dag, Funa’s fort, Kalamita and Cembalo, and Basilica in Eski-Kermen.

Morphological and molecular variability of Peridinium volzii Lemmerm. (Peridiniaceae, Dinophyceae) and its relevance for infraspecific taxonomy

Contemporary delimitation of species and populations in the microbial domain relies on an integrative approach combining molecular and morphological techniques. In case of the dinophyte Peridinium volzii, a considerable number of infraspecific taxonomic entities have been reported, but it is unclear at present whether the corresponding traits are stable within reproductively isolated units or refer to intraspecific variability. We established 26 monoclonal strains from Central Europe with a morphology that is consistent for P. volzii and characterised them by sequences gained from the rRNA operon. Ten of such strains, representative for the entire diversity observed, were investigated in detail morphologically using light and electron microscopy. In the molecular tree, P. volzii was monophyletic, sister group of Peridinium willei, and three ITS ribotypes could be distinguished. Some traits corresponding to previously described varieties and forms were found in individual cells across the strains under investigation, but not as stable characters correlating to certain ribotypes. We also observed new morphological variability (e.g., unusual shape of plate 4″). Cell size and displacement of the cingulum were significantly different between certain ribotypes but in turn, such diagnostic traits are impossible to assign to already described taxa due to their ambiguity. Based on the small first apical plate as diagnostic trait and putative apomorphy, P. volzii is a characteristic species but the present data given, we are reserved to accept more than a single reproductive unit. Thus, more research is necessary, including a focus on species delimitation to putative close relatives such as Peridinium maeandricum.

Revision of the genus Attaphila (Blattodea: Blaberoidea), myrmecophiles living in the mushroom gardens of leaf-cutting ants

The genus Attaphila, comprising minute myrmecophilous cockroaches, is revised, including now six previously known (A. aptera, A. bergi, A. flava, A. fungicola, A. schuppi, A. sexdentis) and three new species (A. multisetosasp. nov. Bohn and Klass, A. paucisetosasp. nov. Bohn and Klass, A. sinuosocarinatasp. nov. Bohn and Klass). All species are described or redescribed and depicted with their main characteristics; determination keys allow the identification of males and females. Especially the male characters allow a distribution to two species-groups with differing host specificity: bergi-group associated with Acromyrmex (and possibly Amoimyrmex) ants, fungicola-group associated with Atta ants; the former appears paraphyletic, the latter monophyletic. The genus Attaphila is characterised emphasising its unique features: (1) insertion of antennae at the bottom of a wide funnel-shaped deepening; (2) antenna with the possibility of a rectangular bending between scapus and pedicellus (associated with a distal excavation of the scapus) and (3) with an unusual shape and low number of antennomeres; (4) femora of legs with a ventral groove allowing a close spacing of femur and tibia during a strong flexion; (5) a complex and unusual shape of the laterosternal shelf area of the female genitalia (lack of shelf, presence of a pair of complicated tubular invaginations); and (6) lateral parts of abdominal tergite T9 of male ending in a pair of ventromesally directed arms, which contact the lateral margins of the subgenital plate. Functional aspects and the possible biological roles of these features are discussed. Older biological data are summarised and new observations are presented. The position of Attaphila within Blattodea is discussed. Like a recent molecular study, the morphology of the male genitalia places the genus in the Blaberoidea. The molecular result of Attaphila being closest to three particular blattellid genera, however, is conflictual from the morphological perspective.

Peering into the Kaleidoscope of Cyclodextrins

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are known to us for 130 years, yet they remain ever as new and as fascinating as in their early years, when Villiers marveled at the unexpected growth of “beautiful radiated crystals” in the alcoholic media of his experiments on bacterial fermentation of starches, or when Freudenberg struggled to solve the puzzle of their unusual shape and structure [...]

GREENHOUSE COLLECTION OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL LIANAS IN THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE URAL BRANCH OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Data on the taxonomic composition of tropical and subtropical lianas in the greenhouse collection of the Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences are presented. Currently, the collection of lianas includes 136 species (65 varieties and hybrids), 48 genera, 29 families. The largest families are Araceae (60 species) and Vitaceae (13 species), the largest generas are Philodendron (43 species) and Passiflora (9 species). More than half of the species are representatives of the flora of South and Central America (54.8 %). The collection includes endemics of western and southwestern Madagascar; New Zealand; Ecuador and South Brazil. The most numerous biomorphological group is the group of leaning lianas – 63 species. We estimated the success of the introduction and the decorative effect of blooms and leaf of the lianas in the collection. Our results showed about 55 % of species can be assigned to the groups of promising and very promising plants for introduction. The other part of the collection (45 % of species) is unpromising. The main reasons for the decrease in the success of the introduction of these species are the absence of blooms and, accordingly, of germinating seeds. Bloom is observed only in 50 species of lianas in the greenhouse collection. About 20 species had the highest estimates of the decorativeness of bloom (8–9 points). High decorative qualities of non-bloom species are provided by leaves of large size, unusual shape, color or surface texture.

Cult Buildings on the Middle-Don Settlements of the Scythian Era

Introduction. As a result of many years of excavations on settlements of the Skiphian era in the basin of the Middle Don the area of about 50 thousand square meters has been opened. However, buildings of the cult purpose are still not known. Methods and materials. The search for such structures is difficult due to the absence of pronounced sacral markers. However, according to publications and archival sources, structures unusual in configuration, stratigraphy and a set of accompanying materials have been selected. It was possible to identify four buildings of the 4th – 3rd centuries BC, characterized by unusual shape and layout, concentration of bonfires, ceramic and osteological materials, presence of anthropological residues. Analysis. Two buildings were located on a hillfort in the city of Semiluki, which is known for mass burials of its inhabitants. One area of about 9 square meters contained the burial of a woman and two children. In its three-part filling three hearths and sacrificial offerings, including dog bones, a female skull, fragments of ceramics, were preserved. Another 33 square meter building contained skulls and other remains of at least 13 people mixed with animal bones. Of the two buildings on the 1st hillfort near the village of Voloshino, one area of about 100 square meters had three hearths, another seven were located around. There were found a large amount of debris of stony vessels and antique amphorae in the filling and in the layer next to this structure. Another building with an area of about 18 square meters had a hearth and a bonfire. Its filling was saturated with fragments of ceramics and animal bones. Results. The buildings in question are not similar to dwellings or household structures. They are distinguished by the unique configuration of pits and internal space, uneven and dug by pits bottom. The bonfires present in the premises were not remnants of heating devices. They, like the accompanying finds, were related to the cult activities of the local population.

A new genus and species of pilumnid crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pilumnidae) symbiotic with the sponge Callyspongia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 (Porifera: Demospongiae: Callyspongiidae) from Lombok, Indonesia; the identity of Pseudactumnus pestaeBalss, 1933; and a review of symbiosis in the Pilumnidae

A new genus and new species of pilumnid crab, Ericiolumnus symbioticus (Decapoda: Brachyura), is described from the sponge Callyspongia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 (Porifera: Callyspongiidae) in reefs in Lombok, Indonesia. The new taxon is characterized, among several characters, by the unusual shape of the carapace, which possesses sharp anterolateral teeth armed with secondary spinules, and prominently spinulous ambulatory legs. Another pilumnid, Pseudactumnus pestaeBalss, 1933, is shown to be a junior synonym of Actumnus asper (Rüppell, 1830). The pilumnid genus PseudactumnusBalss, 1933 is additionally synonymised with ActumnusDana, 1851. A review of symbiosis in Pilumnidae is also presented.

THE SCENE OF TRIUMPH OVER THE DEFEATED ENEMYON THE SEALING FROM KÜLTEPE (COLLECTION OF THE PUSHKIN STATE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, I 2 b 1598)

Статья представляет собой комментированную публикацию не вводившегося ранее в научный оборот оттиска печати из Кюль-тепе (нач. II тыс. до н. э.) из коллекции ГМИИ (инв. № I 2 б 1598) с редкой по характеру композицией, на которой герой попирает поверженного врага перед сидящим на престоле божеством, а между последним и героем помещено священное древо крайне необычной формы (рис. 1; 2). Сравнительное изучение изображения показывает, что оно сочетает как месопотамские мотивы (триумф над простертым на спине врагом, заслоняющимся рукой, в том числе перед лицом божества), так и восточноанатолийские (древо искомой редкой формы рядом с божеством и некоторые иные параллели обнаруживаются на поздненовохеттской печати) (рис. 3). The paper presents a commented publication of seal print from Kültepe (early II mill. BC), collection of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow (inv. no. I 2 b 1598) with a rare composition where the hero tramples the defeated enemy before the deity sitting on the throne, while a sacred tree of an extremely unusual shape is depicted between the deity and the hero (Fig. 1; 2). A comparative study of the image shows that it combines both Mesopotamian motifs (a triumph over the enemy stretched out on his back and raising his hand in order to shield himself or beg for mercy) and East Anatolian ones (the tree of the rare form placed next to the deity and some other details have analogies on one Late New Hittite seal) (Fig. 3).

Two new genera of Desmiphorini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) with description of a species with non-retractile parameres

In this study, two new genera of Desmiphorini (Lamiinae) are proposed: Cleidaria gen. nov., to include Cleidaria cleidae sp. nov. from the state of Chiapas in Mexico, and Obscenoides gen. nov. for Desmiphora (D.) compta Martins & Galileo, 2005. The shape of tarsal claws of Cleidaria cleidae sp. nov. (abruptly narrowed from basal half) is so far, not found in any current genera of the tribe. With respect to Obscenoides compta (Martins & Galileo, 2005) comb. nov., the genitalia of males have an unusual shape with non-retractile parameres. The character combination related to this genital structure is unknown to us in other species in the family, and hypotheses about its function are suggested.